A Mantis Shrimp (order Stomatopoda) spotted in an aquarium at the seafood restaurant at Kuala Sepetang, Perak, Malaysia on 28 March 2024. Fascinating looking creature.
Red velvet ant (Dasymutilla occidentalis)
Day 22 of #invertober#invertober2023
They are actually a species of parasitic wasps. They use their bright colors as a signal to warn predators that they can sting (with a needle-like stinger hidden at the end of their abdomen) and so they should stay away. They display their coloration to indicate that they are not worth attacking. #cowkillerant#velvetants#wasps#wasp#insects#insect#hymenoptera#invertebrates
"According to the research, earthworms contribute to 6.5% of the worldwide grain yield, which is roughly equivalent to the annual cereal grain production of Russia, the fourth-largest producer globally." worm power!